Tire inflating valve and gauge



Dec. 25, 1934. F. BAUMGARTNER TIRE NFLATING VALVE'AND GUAGE Filed Aug. fr, 1931 ATTORNEY INVENTORv m l l Patented Dec. 25, 1934 PATENT A Mylinventionfrelates to tireinating valveand gauge devices and more particularly to such devices` ofthis character as are provided With-means for indicating vwhen Ya tire has been iniiated -fto a predetermined-pressure.

One of the objects of my invention is=to,-pro, videatire inflating Ivalve andgauge device which shall be so fool-;prcof-in design'andrso rugged in construction that it will "be particularly `well adapted for `use in -service stations `and-.garages where such devices -usuall-y 4receive -very careless handling. Y

`Another cbject'of my inventionis -to fprovide a tire inflating valve and -;-gauge 'device c `which shall make possible `the quick .and fsafe vvinflation of Aany tirato `a predetermined pressure; Y

Another object of my 'finvention fis VAto yprovide a tire inating -valve and-gauge device -Which shall not yrequire any lubrication and 'which will, therefore, `work equally well in winter :and

summer. i

'It.isalso anrobjectof my invention-tofprovide an inflating valve andfgaugeadevicein -whioh the piston or plunger Vfor gauging thefairfpressure may also `act as a valve "for operating alsignal, such as .a whistle, `for indicatingfwhena,-tire hasbeen inflated toa predeterminedpressure.

Other. objects'of Vmy invention will, inlpart, be-apparentand will, inpart,--appeanhereinaften For an illustration of-onepf the `various forms .my invention Amay `take, reference may -be had to lthe accompanying drawing-in which:`

0Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of -a tire inating .valve and gauge jembodying my invention; i,

Fig. ."2`"is .an end view "of -the device vshown -in Fgfljfand Y c Fig. A3 iis', Aa view, in section, showing,the-inner construction ofQthe valveandygauge-illustrated-in Fig. 1. n 3

Referring `more ,particularly tothe drawing, Ihaveillustra'ted a rtire iniltifng valveand` gauge comprising a 'body lincluding a member `cr `cfylinder "1, a head or` chuck f2, a valve and `whistle housingand a .pressureigauge 4. T A i fThe cylinder .1 is ,provided `v'vith a chamber 5 which communicates with a .piston chamber -6 @in which is disposed a `.piston-1. Air passage- Ways, A9` and 1Q are also pro-videdinthe walls .of fthe -cylinder for permitting theA 4:passage vof air under certain conditions -to be hereinafter described, K ,s i

The head 2 of well knownconst-ruction `ier connecting `the device to @a tire valve stemr is screwfthreaded rupon -on'e -end of qa hollow istem 1-2, the other fend A'of Awhich ismounted `in'the air chambery 5 and is 1 retained' that 4position -by a collar vv13 which is screwithre'aded "upon fthe end of thecylinder. The stem 12 'isprovided with fashoulder, 14 whichcooperates with the 15 lips of `the collar `13 to prevent lwitl'ldrawal'of the stemiro'm the cylinder, but which permits `the stem tobe `easily turnedo'r rotatedn in` the -cylinder. `Aring 15 of fany suitablepacking fmaterial is disposed on the stem 12'between the shoulder 142and the lips of the-collar 13 toiprevent any leakage ofairtherebetween. A'kn'u'rl'ed Shoulder L7 nfthe head `2-provides a'iieans whereby the head and stem may b'efreadily rotated by lthe fingers 'to Va suitableposition to1engage the valv steinof 'thetire to;be inflated. 1

The valve housing 3 Aismounted upon ther` cylinder 1 vby meansof fapress t in 'su'ch Yposition that air passagewaysflS, 19"and20fin the housing will register, I`respectively, iwithl the z-ir passageways 8,19 and 10 :in tthe '-cyIin'der. In lthe-upper face-of the valve housing is lprovided 'a'screwthreaded i opening '121 `in which a hose connection 22 imay. 'be :secured to connect fthe device `:with Va esuitable source A of compressed =ai`r '(not shown). Leading" from :the air 'hose opening 21vis-'anf-air passageway 24; that connects with -a chamber A25 in Ithe housing, which, in turn, 'is connected to the air passageway l18 through `whicl'rair-mayxbe supplied f-ror'n` `thefsource :of compressed fair :to 30 the tire. The chamber 25-isalso connected-with the air @passageway "19 so `that 7air may-now from the tire to an indicator Vor sig-nal :device such -as a wl'lstle 28 `disposedfin the flower Apart -of fthe housing 3. v 1

In "order to `control fthe `-flow of air `from 'the `hose r22 Ainto the `tire to inate rit, or -ffrom the `tire finto the whistle to determine when the ,-tire is `suliciently inflated, ya valve mechanism -30 is disposed in the lchamber f2.5. i

'The :valve mechanism 3Q comprises -a screw- -tlireadediplug 81 that ^ici-ayfbe screwedginto the open end of the chamber 25, a collar 32,afring 33 of `suitable packin gmaterial disposed; between the collar -32 and aV shoulder 34 in the chamber, 45 `a washer -35 disposed adjacent toY the -leftfhand end of the collar 32,-a ring 36 dfpacking material disposed between the washer 35 =andyarshoulder 3-7 inthefchamber, a valve stem 38 `that extends through;the centers of the parts :just described, 50 a compressed -air valve or valve cap 39 that is screw-threaded upon -the inner end of the valve stem, -and a compressed `springV 41 seated between the inner end `of 4the chamber andthegvailve 'cap'.

The right-handportion `of the valve stem is 55 comparatively large in diameter and is slidably seated in a hole in the center of the plug 31. A packing ring 43 of suitable material is disposed in the plug around the valve stem to prevent leakage of air. A packing gland 44 is also disposed in the plug 31 to hold the packing ring in position and also to provide a second bearing for the enlarged portion of the valve stem. The lefthand end of the gland is turned down and slotted to provide a circular passage for air'. There is also a circularfair path on the left end of the plug 31, so that air can flow around and through the slots.

The valve mechanism 30 is Yassembled Vby mounting all the parts on the valve stem 38 and then screwing the plug 31 tightly in place.

The left-hand portion of .the valve stemj38 is comparatively slender where it passes through the large hollow centers of the collar 32, the

washer 35 and the packing ring 36, until it enters and is secured to the valve 39 by the screwthreaded connection therein. The difference in size between the slender portion of the valve stem and the hollow centers of the washers, etc. permits air to flow along the slender stem.

As shown, the compressed spring 41 biases the Valve cap 39 into position against the rubber ring or washer 36, and thereby normally prevents any air passing from the hose 22 through the passageway 24 into the hollow centers of the ring 36,

'the washer 35 and a slot 45 in the face of the collar 32, and thence into the passageway 18 leading tothe tire. Therefore, itA will be seen that, when pressure is applied to a button 46 on the outer end of the valve stem 33,`the stem will move the valve cap 39 to the left against the pressure of the spring 41 and thereby open the valve to permit air to flow from the hose into the passageway 18 and thence into the tire.

The middle portion of the valve stem 38 is provided with a shoulder constituting a whistle valve 48 that cooperates with the'right-hand face of the collarv 32 to control the'flow 'of air therethrough into a slot in the face of the plug 31, a slot in the left end of the gland 44 and thence into the air passageway 19. As shown, the position of the valve 48 with reference to the valve or valve cap 39 is such that, when valve 48 is closed, valve 39 is opened; and when valve 39 is closed, valve 48 is opened.- Therefore, air from the hose may flow through valve 39 into the tire only when valve 48 is closed, and, on the other hand, air fromthe tire may flow through valve 48 into the whistle only when theval've 39 shuts off the air from the hose.

The whistle 28 comprises a chamber 50 provided with an opening 51 through which air may escape to the atmosphere, and a plug 52 which so controls the flow of air that a whistling sound is producedy when air is forced through it. Y The air passageway 53 in the plug 52 connects with the passageway 10 to provide an entrance to the whistle. l v

- The piston '7 in the cylinder 1 is provided-with a groove or signal valve 55 that cooperates with the air passageways 9 and 10 to afford a second means for controlling the passage of air to the whistle only when the pressure in the tire has reached a predetermined pressure. In its normal position, the piston 7 is disposed with the valve 55 at the left of the air passageways 9 and 10, so that no air can pass from the passageway 9 to the passageway 10. The head 56 of the piston limits itsA movement to the left. The movement of the piston to the right, under the pressure of `of rthe piston '6 to the right.

air in the tire, to open the valve 55 is controlled by the gauge 4.

The pressure gauge 4, which is similar to the well known Schrader valve, with its parts reversed, comprises an outer cylindrical shell 58 that is securely mounted upon the right-hand end of the cylinder 1 by means of a press fit. Within the shell 58 is disposed a second cylindrical shell 59 which is provided with a plug or head 60. A pair of screws 61 `pass through the'wall of the outer shell, thev wall of the inner shell and into the plug 60 to hold these parts together. As shown, the inner end of the shell 59 does not extend quite to the end of the cylinder l and thereby provides a means for limiting the movement This prevents the piston valve 55 from moving past the air passageways 9 and 10.

Disposed within the inner shell 59 is a compression spring 62 for biasing the piston 7 against operation by the pressure of the air in the tire'to open the valve 55. One end of the spring is seated on the head of the piston 7 and the other end bears against a washer 63 which is secured to the inner end of a screw-threaded shaft 64 by a screw 65.

The screw-threaded shaft 64 is threaded through the center of the plug 60 and thence eX- tends outwardly to a head 66 firmly xed in the outer end of a tube 67 which is telescopically mounted on the right-hand end of the outer shell 58. A pin 65 passes through the wall of the tube 67, the head 66 and the shaft 64 to pin the parts securely together so that rotation of the tube on the outer shell will cause rotation of the screwthreaded shaft to effect compression of the spring for biasing the piston '7 to the left. Thus it is seen that the resistance of the piston '7 to 'the pressure of air in the tire may be controlled by rotating the tube 67 to compress the spring 62 to any desired degree. A graduated scale 68 of compression is provided on the outer shell whereby the user may adjust the gauge for any predeterminedpressure.

Operation of the device may be effected as follows: Assuming that it is desired to innate a tire to a pressure of 40 pounds per square inch, then thertube 67 is turned until its left-hand edge is at the 40 point on the graduated scale 68. This action rotates the screw-threaded shaft 64 in the head 60 and causes the spring 62 to bear against theA piston '7 with a pressure corresponding thereto. f

Next the head 2 of the device is pressed against the valve stem (not shown) of the tire to be inflated to open the valve rin the tire and the thumbis pressed against the button 46 of the valve stem 38 to move it inwardly. The inward movement of the valve stem 38 closes valve 48 and opens valve 39. The closing of valve 48 prevents air flowing from the chamber 25 through theair passageways 19 and 9 toward the whistle 28. The openingof valve 39 permits air to ow from the air hose 22, through the passageway 24, chamber 25, valve 39, the passageway around the slender portion of the valve stem, through the centers of the washers 35 and 36, the slot 45 in the face of collar'32, the passageways 18 and 8, the chamber 5 and thence through the stem 12 and the head 2 into the tire. If the air pressurev during this operation is `sufiicient to move the piston to the right, it has no effect on the whistle because the valve 48 is closed.

, When it is desired to ascertain whether or not the tire has been inflated to the desired 40 pounds per square inch, the button 46 is released, thereby permitting the valve stem 38 to move to the right under the pressure exerted by the spring 41. The movement of the valve stem 38 to the right closes valve 39 and opens valve 48. The closing of valve 39 shutsoff the air from theair hose 22. The opening of the valve 48 permits air to iiow from the tire through the head 2, the stem 12, chamber 5, passageways 8 and 18, the slot 45, and thence along the slender portion of the valve stem through the collar 32, the valve 48, the slot in the packing gland 44, theslot in the plug 31 and into the passageways 19 and 9 leading to the Whistle.

Assuming now, however, that the tire has not yet been inflated to the desired pressure, then the air pressure in thetire is not sufficient to force the piston 7 to the right against the predetermined pressure of the spring 62. Therefore, the valve 55 in the piston has not connected the passageways 9 and 10.` Consequently, no air can flow from the tire to the whistle and no whistling sound will be heard. Therefore, the button 46 is again pressed to admit air from the air hose 22 to the tire until it is judged that the tire is sufliciently inflated, when the button 46 is again released.

Assuming now that the tire has been inflated to somewhat` more than the desired pressure, then the pressure in the tire will move the piston 7 to the right against the pressure of the spring 62 until the valve 55 opens the passage from passageways 19 and 9 to the passageways 10 and 20 into the whistle 28, thereby permitting air to flow directly from the tire through the whistle and causing it to sound the whistle.` In this case, the air will blow off through the whistle until the pressure in the utire is reduced to the desired amount, then the reduced pressure in the tire permits the piston 7 to move to the `left under pressure of the spring 62, thereby closing the valve 55 and stopping the whistling sound, which indicates that the tire is now at its desired pressure.

If it is desired to release the air more rapidly from the tire than it flows through the whistle, the head 2 maybe lifted slightly from the tire stem valve to permit air to blow off between the,

foolproof construction that may be easily employed for quickly and safely inflating a tire to any predetermined pressure. It Will also be seen that the gauge portion of the device provides a convenient handle for its operation.

While I have shown and described only one specific form of my invention, I realize that it is susceptible of wide application, and I do not desire to be limited to the precise construction illustrated and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tire inflating valve and gauge device comprising a body portion carrying a connecting chuck and having a passage therein leading from a compressed air inlet to said chuck, a normally closed valve in said passage, a portion of said passage constituting a pressure chamber, a signal device mounted on the body and a second passage joining the iirst named passage between the normally closed valve and the pressure chamber and leading to said signal device, a normally open Valve in said second passage so arranged that it is closed when the normally closed valve is opened, means for manually operating said valves, a normally closed valve in said second passage adjacent the signal device, and a pressure responsive element in the pressure chamber arranged to open the last named valve upon accumulation of a predetermined pressure in the pressure chamber.

2. A tire iniiating valve and gauge device comprising a body portion carrying l a connecting chuck and having a passage therein leading from a compressed air inlet to said chuck, and having a pressure chamber connected to said passage, a normally closed valve in said passage between the air inlet and the connection of the pressure chamber in said passage, a signal device mounted on the body and a second passage joining the first named passage between the normally closed valve and the pressure chamber and leading to said signal device, a normally open valve in said second passage so arranged thatit is closed when the normally closed valve is opened, means for manually operating saidvalves, a normally closed valve in said second passage adjacent the signal device, and a pressure responsive element` in the pressure chamber arranged to open the last named rvalve upon accumulation of a predetermined pressure in the pressure chamber.

FRED BAUMGARTNER. 

